Over the last few week I've had white smoke come out of the exhaust on several cranks and while at stop lights. This is my second motor and my oil and coolant were low before I changed them the other day.
Do you think I should get a compression/leakdown test?


Bruce

 

Can't be good. have you got a chance to smell the smoke? Does it have a sweet type of smell? Could have coolant mixing with your oil...check the oil, does it look frothy?

 

If it's white its most likely a coolant issue.. If the fluids were low a head gasket pretty much narrows it down. If i were you I would drive it and see if it starts to overheat a given point.. (carry some spare water in the trunk though).

 

Ack! It's very possible that you do have a blown head gasket. A good way to check it out is to pop the spark plugs and look for a shiny coat or glaze on the plugs. A leakdown/compression test is a good idea as well. Either way, you want to take care of this as soon as possible.

S

 

Check the coolant: does it look frothy or have carbon/oil in it?

Check the oil: does it look frothy or have a coolant smell?

Are you burning oil?

Did you just do an oil change and possibly add too much oil?

Are you sure it's smoke and not just humidity and moisture coming out the tail pipe?

What kind of gas mileage are you getting?

Does the temp gauge show signs of the engine running hot, especially after long drives?

 

ok, the oil looks fine. it isn't frothy or a distorted color. The car has not over heated at all. The "smoke" does smell kind of funny. Gas mileage is over 20 mpg in the city.

How much $ would you guys estimate to replace a bad head gasket?

 

roof is about $600

3-4 hours of work + the time it takes them to put it back together + all their surcharges.

Might as well get a new engine if a buddy can do it cheap since there is no guarantee it will not crack again or the head isn't damaged.

 

3-4 hours to do a heakgasket would be damned fast. Especially if it's the rear. I'm thinking more like 6-8 hours

 

uhm i knew i forgot something. edited

 

The rear spark plugs were covered in oil so a new motor it is. I was quoted about 20 hours for the rear.

 

3-4 hours for a head gasket on a maxima is insane. bruce I checked today and the flat rate for the rear head gasket is about 12-15 hours depending on year and accesories.

 

Wow, thats amazing. How many miles were on your max??




-eric

 

My car just had a new motor put in like 7 months ago. 75k and already fukked up, I am so fuking mad it's not funny.

Jake- I've been reading and I don't think the Cali-spec would be the easiest thing to do.
Do you think a junkyard could deliver a motor by friday?

 

what have you been reading that says the cali-spec motor won't work like we talked about? I highly doubt you would be able to get a different motor by friday.

 

I'm sure it would work, but wouldn't it be easier just to get a 97 or 98 motor? I don't know of anyone who has ever tried to use a 96 JWT ECU with a Cali-spec in a 98.

If worse comes to worse are you busy next weekend?

 

Im installing some Tien SS dampers with EDFC next weekend.